Yuji Ueda (b. Shigaraki, Japan, 1975) is a ceramic artist based in Shigaraki, a town in western Japan known as one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan. Born to a family of tea farmers there, Ueda grew up surrounded by ceramics. After studying under Yasuhisa Kohyama, a leading figure in the field of the Shigaraki ware, Ueda built his own anagama kiln in his hometown and started his own practice.
Ueda’s practice is guided by his keen interest in the texture and materiality of the clay native to Shigaraki. While oftentimes retaining a vestige of functionality as vessels, Ueda’s works are marked by unusual and unexpected forms resulting from his constant experimentation. The cracked surfaces and peeled-off layers powerfully evoke the raw quality of the clay. He further explores the expressive potential of the clay by combining it with materials and tools found at the hardware store. Fertilizer, for example, creates unique colors when combined with the clay. Despite the seemingly spontaneous quality of his works, Ueda’s practice is not entirely reliant on the elements of chance. His experiments are equally guided by his effort to achieve what he envisions prior to the production. Ueda’s works are thus the result of the practice that both embraces spontaneity and intervenes in the natural process.